The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-18
A CONCORD HOME.
The House Where Miss Aicott Wrote Her
Stories, Now the Home Of Prof Harris.

The House Where Mas Aicott Wrote Hel
Stories, Now the Home Of Prof Harris.
| Concord Letter in Boston Advertiser
/ The homestead of the Alcott family, ''Ths
| Orchard House. derives its name from the many
and large fruit trees by which it is literally sur
rounded Overlooking with that loving rever
| ence which must come to US when thinking OF
| the noble woman who has given her very life sc
unselfishly untiringly for the true good of her
"boys and girls" than whom nothing has been
i and is dearer to her. we stop and glance about
| us-irst at the unpretending two-and-a- half
story dwelling-house with its oldfash-
Toned sopine roof, large chimneys
| surroundings, the garden and pleasant grounds:
/ looking little higher we see unique chapel
/ nesting the hillside Noting kindly face
| at the door. we open the little wooden gate and
| advance up the graveled walk between neatly
! trimmed lawns. shaded by huge elms which have
| at their base such inviting seats that We would
/ fain repose upon them did not still brighter
/ prospect open before us-for at the
| portal of the house itself receive very
| courteous reques. to ENTER and find our
selves IN the home" of which We have so
| often dreamed. A square, cosy hall is that
into which we have come. with q comfortable
chair here ard there, and a clock on its wall
which greets us with CHEEKY cuckoo Pass
ing through the door at the right we enter the
parlor-fled almost to rerletion with rare
works of art-and such an instant feeling of
"homeliness" takes possession of us that the awe
which had anticipated flies from U.s. and in its
place. happy restfulness seems to clothe the
very beams and alcoves of the cosy and like all
Across the hall,.openlng TO the left. is another
door, and open 1t need tell as that
this is the study, and delightful one it is, with
its booklined walls, casts and articles of yertu.
Directly opposite the outside door formerly
a huge chimney with its open Fireplace. Many
years ago 1.-THE house Is over 200 years od) this
was removed by Mr. Alcott and in its place
stairway built Does picture of a tall. schol-
arly man, his silvery hair falling back from
his forehead. and his blue eyes beaming hospita-
bly, upon vou come before you as mention his
giles from the time when at Ia he worked pa
tiently at his trade of clock making, paying
his way with indemitable energy, by peddlng
during his trips through northern Connections
and western Massachusetts, teaching district
school snd writing school, or through his ex-
perience teacher in Bristol, Boston, German
town. Philadelphia still on in the famous Tenn
pie School, Boston, with such coadjutors as
Harriet Martineau, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth
contributions to the Boston Commonwealth and
the Radical to it's culminative
OF the leading orieinators of the TranscendentAl
Club lalso called the Symposium. having for
associates Mr.. Emerson, Mr.. Ripley, James
Freeman Clark DR.. Bartol, John s. Dwight.
William Henry Charming George Ban
Sylvester Graham, the aushor Of T TAI
Concord Days. and his autobiography
Associated with him in some of his work was
Dr. Samuel May, the brother of his wife, also
noted for her brightness perseverance and in
telectuality.
To this couple came four daughters-Anna
'.Little Men") Louisa May (born at German
town, November 90. 1892, Elizabeth Sewall, and
May (born in Concord. July &C. 1S40). OF the
second OF these, tLouisa May" we say again.
who can measure the blessings bestowed
through her fundamentally? Ascending the
stairs of which we have already spoken, we see,
back of them, another hall, formerly used
sewing room. At the right is Jos ROOM"
large square apartment lighted by four windows.
At the right of this is the
tary and library, built almost into the
wall to the keeping of which was given the man
uscrpts of nearly, if not all of Jos" works.
from Hospital sketches" through Moods
famous ''Scrap Bag and so In this library
may now be found copies of all these works, the
well-worn pages showing how constantly they
are perused. Under the large wood mantel at
the center OF the right wall, is painted picture
of a certain little 'screech OWL perched in so
life-like a manner on the twig of the elm trees
to be poured. that we almost expect to him
blink his solemn eyes. Forming the side Of
OF the front windows is a graceful painting OF
callas and nasturtiums. placed there by the same
loving hand, that of May, as a recompense for q
movable panel which had been taken away.
Passing once moro into the hall. and entering
MAYS ROOM" or las it is sometimes called, from
it's paper borderine). the "blue room" The
wood work of this room is white and completely
covering it are sketches which bring at once to
the students mind scenes from the Odyssey
and Iliad, copy of Guides Aurora" a Thor
waldsen sketch, and one of the Madonna Child
ings. the Aurora is under the central window,
fronting the east, while the Thorwaldsen and
Madonna are on the door, and all executed
in that graceful. mastery style which crowned
her efforts with worldwide fame. OF the in
tense love existing between these two sisters all
the world knows. how their very hearts tendris
twined and intertwined. knowing this, can it
surprise that the death OF the
loved sister (then Nine. Niericker) at Paris.
some seven years since, has SO affected the
other that since that time her health has stead
lily declined, and when we consi der that, in ad-
dition to this, the entire business" RESPONSE
bility of the household, the care OF her beloved
sister Mays precious Legacy, little Louise
Nieriker, and the loss OF her iat1er's health.
by paralysis-havo nearly Slapped the
of her own constitution that she is
now unable to see any one. even her own, so
greatly is she overcome by nervous pros
tration, and that she is now quietly resting
at Princeton, writing only a very little and at
completely has her writing become part of
her existence. During healthfulness she de-
voted herself for long periods exclusively to
her work. stopping only to brighten the path
way of some less fortunate brother or sister,
TILL feeling the absolute necessity of change
for while she would, to the delight of her
friends. yield herself to social life.
Dear old Orchard House is no longer the home
of benevolent Mr.. Alcott and his talented
daughters. but is now the property of Prof N. T..
utilized by the Concord Summer School of Phil
osophy The father in his helpless old age is
tenderly guarded by his daughter Anna An
other daughter, sunny loving May, waits above
and thu other, Louisa Alcott rests now by grand
Did Wachusett but when at home in the old resi-
dence of Thoreau.
INDIAN RIDERS.
Great Feats in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In an